Light well lining



Jan. 12, 1,943.

H. A. WELl-.NTZl

LIGHT WELL LINING Filed June 2l, 1940 2 ShestsSheetvl v'l y Jan. 1-2, 1943. H. A. wELLNn-z LIGHT WELL LINING 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 2l, 1940 Patented Jan. 12, 1943 UNITED sr'ra LIGHT WELL LiNiNG Harry A. Weunitz, columbia, ohio Application June 21, 1940, Serial No. 341,729

(o1. rz-asl 8 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved light well construction for use in connection with cellar or basement Windows of buildings, particularly in instances where the windows are-mounted in a wall in positions wholly or partly below an adjoining soil grade.

Usually, such wells are formed by excavating the earth to a desired depth adjacent the window openings, and then producing a soil-retaining wall by pouring, in situ, mixed concrete into suitable forms. The retaining wall thus provided comprises a separate unit from the adjoining building wall. This method and resulting construction possesses certain objections: rst, in the relatively high cost of producing the same at the building site and, secondly, after a certain period of use, due to settling, such site-casted retaining Walls draw away from the building wall, leaving crevices or cracks which are unsightly and allow soil and Water infiltration into the light well proper.

In accordance with the present invention, these objections, among others, are avoided or minimized by the provision of an improved lining construction for such light wells, wherein the lining construction comprises a plurality of pre-cast cementitious blocks, the latter being arranged in vertical superposed registration and having their inner ends formed for insertion in the-building wall, in order to become a part of said wall, so that the entire lining assembly will constitute a cantilever extension of the building wall construction, with the weight of the lining borne by the building wall and independently of the soil surrounding the light Well.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to simplify, improve and lessen the cost of light. well linings, and to provide an improved method and means for effecting the support of such linings in their operative positions.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of an improved cernentitious block adapted for use as a light well lining and wherein the block comprises. integrally united parallel side beams and an outer connecting beam arranged atr right angles to the side beams, the inner ends of the side beams. terminating an integral, outturned, corbel extensions, the latter possessing standard dimensions. by which the same may be accommodated in a building wallcomposed of standard cement blocks, or other appropriate materials, to. the end that the well lining block constitutes a lateral extension and unitary part of the building wall.

It has also been proposed in the prior art to provide retaining walls for light wells or areaways, wherein such retaining walls are composed of a plurality of separate but interfitting concrete beams built in and projecting from the building wall. However, the present invention is distinguished from such prior art arrangements by the fact that the lining blocks, utilized by the present invention, are each of integral one-piece construction and have their side beams formed with out-turned corbels which readily adapt the blocks to incorporation in the associated building wall, particularly when such a wall is composed of standard cementitious blocks.

For a further understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the followingdescription and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view taken through a building wall and disclosing the light well lining, forming 'the present invention, in association therewith;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the plane indicated by the line II'-II of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a Vertical sectional View, taken on the plane indicated by the line III-III of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a detail perspective View of one of the lining block units of the type provided with corbel extensions;

Fig. 5 is a similar view of a lining block unit without the corbel extensions;

Fig. 6 isa perspective view of the metallic reenforcement used in the lining block disclosed in Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a similar View of a lining block having a slightly modied form of corbel extensions provided thereon.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral l designates the foundation wall construction of a building. While this wall construction may be formed from any suitable materials, such as brick, tile or poured concrete, it is preferably formed from standard concrete blocks of the type indicated at 2. These blocks are mortar united and are arranged in their customary vertically superposed order. In the formation of the wall I, the blocks 2 are arranged to produce window openings of the type shown at 3, which openings are disposed wholly or partly below the soil grade d, each othe openings 3 receiving a window 5, or other transparent closure. Since the windows usually are disposed below the soil grade, it is necessary to provide, for their eective utilization, a light shaft or well 6 in the front of each thereof. Such a window is produced by excavating the soil in the immediate'vicinity of the window 5 to a depth corresponding to the horizontal level of the bottom of the opening 3.

In plan, the light Well is substantially rectangular in conguration, as shown, although this may be varied if desired. After the excavation has been made in the soil to produce the light shaft or Well 6, it is desirable to provide a wall lining therefor, by which the well will be prevented from again filling with soil or other foreign debris. The present invention is, as above explained, directed to the provision of an improved retaining Wall for light Wells or shafts of the character set forth.

In the attainment of this purpose, a plurality of pre-cast cementitious-like blocks 'I and 8 are employed, having the configuration disclosed in Figs. 4 and 5. The blocks I and 8 are arranged in relative vertical registration and superposed order, with the blocks 'I alternating in position with the blocks 8. Each block is of integral construction and includes a pair of longitudinally spaced, parallel side beams SI which project outwardly from the wall construction I at right angles thereto, the outer ends of the beams 9 being integrally united with an outer longitudinally extending beam Iii, the latter extending parallel with the wall construction I. The blocks I differ from the blocks 8 by having the inner ends of their side beams 9 formed with outturned corbel extensions I i which extensions are laid in and form a part of the wall construction I. Preferably, each of said lining blocks is mechanically strengthened by having incorporated therein, at the time of manufacture, metallic reenforcing rods I2, the latter possessing the configuration disclosed in Fig. 6.

When the improved light Well lining is used with a wall construction composed of the blocks 2, each of the blocks 'I and 8 possesses the same height as the block 2, so that as the latter are erected in courses, the blocks I and 8 may be simultaneously laid therewith in operative positions. The corbel extensions II of the blocks l, while possessing the same height as the blocks 2, are preferably a fraction of the thickness of the blocks 2, as ,shown in Fig. 3. Thus, theV blocks shown at 2a, which define the margins of the Window opening 3, are formed so that they are but one-half the thickness of the remainder of the blocks 2 constituting the Wall construction I, the blocks 2a and the corbel extensions II when mortar united jointly possess the same thickness as the blocks 2. As shown in Fig. 2, the outer vertical surfaces of the extensions I I will be disposed in the same plane as the corresponding surfaces of the blocks 2. By being thus formed, the beams 'I and 8 become, in eifect, cantilever or corbel extensions of the wall construction I, so that the weight thereof is borne by the wall construction independently of the surrounding soil of the light well.

In this manner, the well lining blocks will not separate from the wall construction, nor settle upon weakening or subsidence of the surrounding coil. It will be understood that, if desired, each of the lining blocks may possess the corbel extensions disclosed in Fig. 4. However, for reaso-ns of economy, this is unnecessary and I preferably use between each of the blocks '5, the blocks Il, the latter being devoid of corbel extensions and the weight thereof resting on the underlying block 1. In most instances, it has been found unnecessary to provide a lining wall for the bottom of the light well. If desired, however, a cementitious bottom lining may be incorporated in the lowermost of the blocks 'I. The top of the light well is preferably closed by a metallic grating I3, which is supported by the uppermost of the lining blocks.

The construction disclosed is simple and economical to manufacture and install. By being from concrete, its mechanical strength is manifest and, moreover, is enhanced by its incorporation into and as a part of the Wall construction I. Each of the blocks 'I and 8 forms a single unit, which may be handled as such, thus overcoming the weaknesses and complications of the multiple intertting bars or beams hitherto employed for analogous purposes.

As illustrated in Fig. 2, the distance between the inner surfaces of the parallel side beams 9 is greater than the outside dimension of the window frame to be incorporated in the window opening. Usually the window frames are of metallic angle construction and have laterally directed anges I4. After the wall I has been built with the well lining blocks vincorporated therein, the window frame is secured in the Window opening by laying up ller blocks I5 at'the inner sides of the beams and positioning the nanges I4 in engagement therewith after which similar filler blocks I5a are cemented in position in front of the anges. By this construction, the longitudinal position of the Window frame with respect to the wall may be varied through the use of blocks I5 and I5a having different dimensions. For example, if the window frames were eight inches shorter than the distance between the beams 9, it could be placed in the center of the opening by using four inch filler blocks or it could be located one inch on either side of the center by using five inch filler blocks on one side and three inch filler blocks on the other side.

Although it is preferable to form the corbel extensions only a fraction of the thickness of the blocks from which the wall l is constructed, it is within the concept of the invention to form them the complete thickness of such blocks as shown at I5 in Fig. '7. When thus formed, the extensions may be reduced in weight by providing openings I'I therein. If it is desired to employ h-alf-blocks at the ends of the beams 9, the extensions may be cut on the planes indicated by the dotted lines A-B in Fig. 7.

What is claimed is:

l. A building Wall composed of blocks having a window opening, the latter being disposed below the adjoining soil grade and in registration with an .excavated light well, a lining for said light well comprising a plurality of pre-cast cementitious members disposed in vertical superposed order, each of said members constituting an integral unit shaped to the configuration of the light well and having a height approximately the same as that of the blocks comprising the building wall, alternate members having the inner ends thereof out-turned and laid into the building wall to form corbel extensions thereof.

2. A building wall comprising a plurality of vertically registering superposed blocks, said blocks being relatively disposed to provide a window opening disposed substantially below an adjoining soil grade, certain of the blocks bounding said window opening being of reduced width to form corbel sockets, said window opening being disposed in registration with a light well produced by excavation of adjoining soil, a lining for said light well composed of a plurality of precast cementitious members, each of said members having the lsame height as said Wall blocks and shaped to conform with the conguration of the light well, and out-turned corbel extensions formed with the ends of at least certain of said members, said extensions being received within the sockets provided therefor in said building wall and to constitute a portion thereof, whereby the lining is supported by said wall.

3. A building wall comprising a plurality of vertically registering superposed blocks of standard dimensions, said blocks being relatively disposed to dene a Window-receiving opening at a level below that of an adjoining soil grade, certain of the blocks bounding said window opening being of reduced width to produce a plurality of corbel sockets, said window opening being disposed in registration with a light well produced in adjacent soil, a lining for said light Well composed of a plurality of substantially U- shaped blocks, the latter possessing the same height as the wall blocks and arranged one on another in vertical superposed order throughout the height of the light well, and out-turned corbel extensions integrally formed at the inner ends of said blocks, said extensions being receivable within the sockets provided therefor in said building wall so that the weight of said lining blocks is borne by said wall.

4. As a new article of manufacture, an integral pre-cast cementitious block for use as a lining for light wells, said block being composed of a pair of spaced parallel side beams joined at their outer ends by an outer beam extending at right angles thereto, and out-turned extensions integrally formed with the inner ends of said side beams, said extensions being arranged at right Y angles to the planes of the side beams and shaped to constitute a part of a building wall in which they are received.

5. In a building wall formed from superposed horizontal courses of building blocks of standard dimensions, said wall having a' window opening, light well forming means positioned in registration with said window opening, said means comprising a plurality of superposed pre-cast cementitious members, each thereof having a height equal to that of the wall-forming blocks and being provided with a body disposed in outwardly spaced parallel order with respect to the Wall,

parallel side beams integrally formed with the y ends of said body and extending toward said wall, and oppositely directed extensions provided at the ends of certain of said side beams, said extensions being disposed in the plane of the wall and positioned between blocks of alternate courses, said light Well forming members being laid during the formation of the Wall.

6. As a new article of manufacture, an integral pre-cast cementitious block for use in lining light wells, said block comprising a body, side beams extending angularly from the ends of said body, oppositely directed lateral extensions provided at the ends of said side beams, said extensions being positioned in the same plane and parallel with said body, reenforcing means ernbedded in said block, said means having a plurality of rods extending the full length of said block, and means connecting said rods at the ends of the body, side beams and extensions.

'7. In a basement wall composed of blocks laid up in courses and having a window opening formed therein in registration with an excavated light well in the soil adjacent to said wall, means for lining said light well comprising a plurality of pre-cast cementitious blocks, each of which has a body portion spaced from the wall and terminating in side portions directed toward the wall, and laterally directed extensions provided vat the inner ends of said side portions, said blocks being superposed and having said laterally directed extensions laid in the wall in parallel relation to the blocks forming said Wall.

8. In a basement wall composed of blocks laid up in courses and having a Window opening formed therein in registration with an excavated light well in the soil adjacent to said wall, means for lining said light well comprising a plurality of pre-cast cementitious blocks having body portions spaced from the Wall and terminating in side portions directed toward the wall, laterally directed extensions provided at the inner ends of the side por-tions on certain of said blocks, said blocks being assembled in superposed light wellforming order with said laterally directed extensions laid in said wall in parallel relation to the blocks of Which it is formed.

HARRY A. WELLNITZ. 

